Ricky Lawrence Found Not Guilty of Assaulting Ex-Girlfriend Chloe Othen

Businessman Ricky Lawrence, 33, was found not guilty of assaulting his ex-girlfriend Chloe Othen, 34, a former Miss Universe GB finalist, at Aldersgate House Crown Court in London.

The trial lasted eight days. Some jurors cried after hearing the not guilty verdict. The jury took just over five hours to reach their decision.

Othen, a model and Instagram influencer with over 284,000 followers, claimed Lawrence attacked her at his £1.5 million apartment in Knightsbridge in October 2022.

She told the court he dragged her by the hair, bit her six times, and punched her up to 30 times.

She said she was terrified, thought she might die, and had to take a tetanus shot and antibiotics for the bite wounds.

Lawrence, who runs Lawrence & Winslade, a luxury tailoring business in Knightsbridge, denied all charges. He told the court that another man, Bora Guccuk, was the real attacker.

Guccuk is a well-known Hatton Garden jeweller. He was recently cleared in another trial about a gold toilet theft at Blenheim Palace.

What Happened in Court

Othen gave evidence from behind a screen. She described her relationship with Lawrence as “narcissistic” and full of “highs and lows.”

She said she didn’t want to go to his flat that night because she was scared. When she got there, she claimed Lawrence lost control and attacked her violently.

“He stole my phone, bear-hugged me, and then just punched and thumped me,” she said. She added that she screamed for help when someone called her phone.

She also said she had seen a private doctor afterward and her neck wound became septic.

Lawrence’s Side of the Story

Lawrence said the two were in an on-off relationship for six months, from December 2021 to May 2022.

He told the jury that Othen showed up uninvited at his flat in October 2022, and he repeatedly told her to leave.

He denied hitting her and said she became aggressive, scratching him on his abdomen.

He also claimed that Othen had previously told him about being abused by Guccuk, and said he saw a red round mark on her face that looked like a footprint.

Supporting Evidence and Witnesses

Francesca Allen, 28, a former Love Island star, dated Lawrence in 2018. She wrote a statement saying he was kind and had never been violent.

“He was always calm, even when I was angry,” she said. “I’ve never seen him be aggressive.”

Lawrence said Othen had aborted their child, which led to the end of their relationship. He believed her new relationship with Guccuk led her to make false allegations.

His lawyer argued that if the assault had lasted an hour, as claimed, the injuries would be much more serious, possibly grievous bodily harm or attempted murder.

The defence claimed Othen lied to protect her relationship with Guccuk, who was funding her lifestyle.

Final Verdict

After days of emotional evidence and contradicting stories, the jury unanimously decided to acquit Ricky Lawrence.

Lawrence appeared emotional in court, dressed in a grey suit and blue tie, as he looked back at his supporters when the not guilty verdict was read.

The trial leaves many questions unanswered, but legally, Lawrence walks free.